When Times Are Tough, Cut Voting Hours?

February 29, 1992

The state Senate and House are at odds over a bill that would reduce the cost of running Connecticut's March 24 presidential primary. We hope the two chambers can agree on a compromise that retains regular primary voting hours while cushioning the expense for municipalities.

Under a version endorsed by the Legislature's Government committee, polling places on March 24 would be open only eight hours rather than the normal 14. Secretary of the State Pauline R. Kezer proposed the reduced polling hours after the General Assembly cut $925,000 from her budget that would have been used to reimburse municipalities for the cost of running the primary.

The House voted for a compromise that keeps regular voting hours, but permits the cities and towns to adopt other cost-cutting measures. The Senate insists that hours be cut unless the state's reimbursement is restored. The House is more reasonable.

Voter participation -- the bedrock duty of citizens -- ought not to be curtailed even when times are tough. If Ms. Kezer wants to balance her budget by reducing polling hours, what further blow to democracy would another cut in her budget produce?

The polls should be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., as required by law now, so that voters have ample opportunity to exercise their rights. Commuters would be especially inconvenienced -- perhaps even shut out -- if voting hours were truncated.

Gov. Lowell P. Weicker Jr. has threatened to veto any bill that shortens polling hours. It shouldn't get that far